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“We would go downstairs, have a cup of tea and talk but when she had the pillow it was the first time she went to sleep.

“Lacey has also got a necklace with a fingerprint of her dad and a photo which helps her most days, with a message inside that says ‘I love you’.

“If she is having a down day then she will rub her necklace, you know then that she is having a moment. Lacey wanted everyone to get one on the day of the funeral.

“Lacey was so close with her daddy, they were the best of friends.”

It was Miss Rees’ father Anthony who told Lacey the tragic news.

“My dad has been great, Lacey is very open with my dad, they laugh and joke about things that Richard used to do,” she said.

“My dad told Lacey because he was scared that once she got told she would turn on me because I was the one who said.

“He helped me but it was a horrible day, my dad is a community psychiatric nurse and he works with children and young people so he knows how to deal with situations like this.”

The family have since been raising money for Mind, a charity that Lacey picked.

“My Daddy wasn’t well and he found it really hard to talk, I sat down with my mammy and made a list of all the charities I could pick from to help people who can’t talk because they do not feel well,” she said.

“The charity I want for Daddy is called Mind.

The family have donated nearly £2,500 to Mind

“This charity is there to help people to talk and help the poorly people to feel better.

“Daddy couldn’t talk so I want to help children and adults who are suffering with this illness like Daddy.”